Three men walked past Branden Oliver as the locker room cleared Thursday night.

The first, a teammate, cheered and yelled, "MVP!," at the rookie Chargers running back. The second, a teammate, slapped Oliver on the shoulder and shouted, "Baby Sproles! Baby Sproles!"

The third man followed two minutes later. He gave perspective.

"It's just one game, right?" General Manager Tom Telesco said with a smile. "Just one game, right?"

"It's just one game," Oliver said, nodding his head. "It's just one game."

Oliver and wide receiver Dontrelle Inman were men of the hour Thursday. Teammates cheered them. Reporters interviewed them. Family and friends congratulated them. The good news about this fast start for the exhibition opener heroes is their mental makeup. It seems unlikely either grow satisfied after a little success, boding well for their futures in San Diego.

They worked too hard to stop now.

Before Oliver rushed seven times for 64 yards, before he followed excellent trench and downfield blocking on a 16-yard touchdown scamper, before he became likened to Darren Sproles for his diminutive height and No. 43 jersey, he waited for a chance.

Most undrafted rookies in an NFL camp agreed to join that team minutes after the draft ends.

Not Oliver.

Buffalo's all-time leading rusher had an invite to participate at the Colts' rookie minicamp on a tryout basis. That's it. He tried out, impressed, but was not signed. About a week later, San Diego signed him to a three-year deal.

"You can't get complacent," Oliver, 23, said. "If I get complacent, I won't be here next week. That's out of the question. You have to take it one day at a time. Word hard. Work hard for the lord. He's given me an opportunity, and I'm just grateful and blessed to have it because there are a lot of guys I worked out with, and they didn't even get a call after the draft."

Then there's Inman.

Much has been written by now about the former CFL wide receiver. He befriended veteran Eddie Royal in the spring; they talked golf, Virginia vs. Virginia Tech football, and how to make this roster. When Inman catches extra passes after practice, it's Royal who throws them. When he celebrates a 70-yard touchdown catch, it's Royal who jumps and congratulates him with the most enthusiasm on the sideline.

He can't stop working now.

Not for Royal. Not for himself.

"You get what you put in," Inman, 25, said. "I'm a firm believer in that. Whatever you put in, that's what you get. It definitely doesn't change my mindset."

If roster cuts were today, Inman and Oliver almost assuredly would still have their iPad playbooks.

For Inman, it is highly unlikely this changes; he has all but earned a spot to date. Oliver would be the No. 4 running back, edging out sixth-round pick Marion Grice. This outcome sees a likelihood, but it's early still.

Nothing has been given to them yet.

They know this. Even if not necessary, they'll be reminded.

"It's one game," coach Mike McCoy said Friday. "I mean, Branden played how many plays in that game, and now everyone is making all these great comparisons. He's got a long ways to go. And to his credit, he deserves it. He's done a nice job. That's what this game is all about. The thing we tell players is we want the consistency part. We want it to be that same guy every day. ...

"Younger players have to make the most of every opportunity and create their role (on the team). I think Dontrelle and Branden both obviously jumped their game up. We want to see players are who are new or younger that can raise their game ... to be one of the best 53. But we've got a long ways to go. The whole football team does."